Folding table.



- c; W. COPPIN, l v FOLDING TABLE.- APPLIGATION FILED MAB. 25, 1913.

1,090,451 Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

I 2 sums-SHEET 1.

HILU

' I .I 34mm v-x'kocf www@ was o. W. GOPFIN. y

FOLDING TABLE. l APPLICATION FILED MAR.. 25, 1913.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNITED sTATEs PATErIT oEEIoE.

CHARLES W. COFFIN, F PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. T. BUBROWESCOMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FOLDING TABLE. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

To aZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES lV. CoFFIN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Folding Tables, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to tables, and has for its object the provisionof an improved portable, light, folding table, particularly useful as acard table, though, of course, capable of many'other uses expected of atable of the character stated.

A characteristic of the present invention is embodied in the improvedconstruction and formation of a table frame or skeleton, complete initself, and independently of the covering therefor, comprising asurrounding or marginal ortion and braces connected thereto and tiroughother means, spanning the space therewithin, said frame carrying andbracing foldable legs adapted to be clcosed within said space betweenthe upper and lower edges of the marginal or surrounding portion vof theframe; and said frame rendering it possible to employ a thin lightmaterial, such as pa er board, as a covering for the frame, wiich, whenlaid vupon and secured to the frame, will be rendered sufliciently rigidand strong to constitute an eflicient table top, adequately re'inforced'and supported not only4 around the margin thereof but at thecentral portion of the same.

Other features of the invention reside in an improved manner ofarranging and securing within the surrounding or marginal portion of theframe the intermediate braces therefor on which the covering is adaptedto be laid; a sim )le and effective manncrof pivoting the fo dable legson the frame and of bracing the same therefrom when open; an arrangementof the foldable legs relative to the frame, enabling the folding of thelegs into compact form and facilitating the use of a frame and top ofrelatively small size while of suflicient diameter to receive the foldedlegs therewithin; and sim le durable means for fastening the legswienfolded into the frame against accidental opening.

All of the foregoin together with addi- -tional advantageous etails -andarrangelegs as will hereinafter appear.

'frame and each secure lthe latter. The bars D and E are arranged atright angles to the bars B and C, and all 4surfaces o ments of parts ofthe preferred embodiment of my invention will be clear from the specificdescription hereinafter contained, when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings formino' part thereof, wherein said embodiment oftie invention is illustrated for the purpose of facilitating a fullunderstanding of the present improvements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an edge view of the complete table, Fig. 2is a bottom view of the table in its folded condition, Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view through the up- :per portion of the table, withlegs extended, on line of Fig.,2, looking in the direction of thearrows, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line g/-g/ of Fig. 2 lookin inthe direction of the arrows, and Fig. 5 1s a detail sectional view ofthe central portion of the table on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring new more specifically to the drawings, and in connection withwhich like -reference letters will refer to the same parts in theseveral views, A represents the sur- .,rounding or marginal portion ofan open lframe or skeleton, the same being shown of Icircular formation,although it may be of Eother shape, as desired, and of lsuitablethickness or height to accommodate folding Bracing the marginal orsurrounding ortion A of the frame are four bars in almed pairs B and C,and D and E, arranged in the space within the surroundin portion A ofthe at its outer end to of said bars B, CyD and E terminate at pointsnear the center of the frame so as to be s aced apart at the inner endsthereof by tie central unobstructed space e. The frame constructionasthus far described is preferably of a light wood, as are also the egsto be presently defined, and the upper the bars B, C, D and E arepreferably flush with the upper surface of the surrounding member A ofthe frame. A centrally located thin horizontal fiat metal plate F,conveniently square in outline, is seated with said ears overlying theupper surfaces of the inner ends of the bars B, C, D and E and havingapertured ears f at its corners and is fastened to said bars by screws'or the like f', to connect, brace and support the inner ends of allof-thc bars.

The plate, as will be clear, constitutes a firm middle support for thetable top, while aiding in the accomplishment of other advantageousfunctions present in my table, as will later appear.

G and G2 represent opposite 'pairs of folding legs, the same beingmounted in the following manner, to wit: Each of the legs at its upperend adjoins a bearing or spacing block g, each secured to the side ofthe adjacent bar B, C, D or E, as the case may be, through the medium ofa screw g threaded through the block and into the bar. The screw has asmooth or unthreaded outer shank portion g2 passing through theleg andconstituting a pivot bearing for the leg. The outer bearing for the leg,separated from and in opposition to the spacing block or bearing gI isformed by the offset or shorter leg g3 of-an approximately L-shapedmetallic bracket g4, the screw g passing freely through the offset g3and having its .head bear against the outer surface of the latter. rIhelonger leg or base of the bracket is formed in keeping with the interiorfoirmation of the frame to which the same is attached, in the presentinstance slightly curved to closely lie against the innersurfacey of thecircular frame memberA, to which .the base of the bracket is securelyfastened at three points by means of the screws g5 engaging 'theopposite projecting end portions of the base g"g at the correspondinglyopposite sides of the bar (B, C, D or E), and an intermediate screw gpass- `ing from the outside through the frame member A throughthe baseof the bracket g4,- and into the end of the said frame bar,- it beingobserved that the screws g5 are passed fronifthe inside through the baseg4 of the bracket outwardly' into the frame member A. i y

By the foregoing construction of mounting for the legs, it will beobserved that the frame members are firmly and rigidly united andstrengthened, and a firm, lasting bear- Y legs of one pair (G) near theupper edge of the surrounding frame memberv A, and the supportingbrackets for the other, pair gf legs (G2) near .the lower edge of thesaid l 4frame member A. This .enables the folding of the legs G in aparallel relation against the table top with thelegs G2 folded into asimilar parallel relation at right angles tov the legs G and.immediately below the latter, as clearly illustrated.

,All of the legs are provided with braces- H, the same beingconveniently formed of spring metal with an offset end L carrying awasher It adapted to work in a confini-ng slot I in the adjacent bars B,C, D and E. The slots in a pair of these ba rs are arranged near theupper edge thereof, the slots of the other pair being arranged near thelower edge of the same, in keeping with the'relavtive positioning of themet-al brackets and legs carried thereby, as just previously de-vscribed.v 'By this arrangement, the spring braces H are each4 interposedbetween the leg which carries the same and one of the bars,-the spacingblocks y causing the proper separation of the legs from the bars,-andare adapted to be sprung when the legs are folded so that a suiiicientfrictional engagement will be created between the sides of the legs andthe inner ends b of the bars B, C, D and E, this frictional engagementbeing accomplished by a required slight deflection of the legs to enablethem to enter the space formed at the center of the frame between saidends of thejbars. As is obvious, the legs enter and lie within saidcentral space c left beneath the plate F and between the said ends ofthe bars.

All of the instrumentalities to which I have alluded are confined, inthe closed condition of the table, in the space withinV the surroundingmember A of the frame and between the planes ofthe upper and loweredges'of said surrounding member.

The device as thus far described is a rigid complete structureabundantly capable of use for the purposes for which a support of thiskind i's designed, and all that remains to be done is to provide thesame with a covering Vcapableof coperating with the frame to furnish thetable top.. I desire to accomplish this resultl in a simple inexpensivemanner yand by the utilization of a ma-' teria-l of lightcliaractei,le1iding to the portability of the table,and preferablysuliiciently thin to add no material thickness to" the table frame aspreviously defined'. By reason of the framev construction, Iam enabledto use a paper or similar covering L (even of a character in itselfincapable of constituting a table top because of the frailty thereof)which when laid upon the upper edge of thel surrounding frame member Aand upon the flush upper surfaces of the bars B, C, D and E, and thecentral metal plate F, will be abundantly supported and stiifened aroundthe edge and at the central portion thereof, to constitute alrigiddurable table top'. Preferably, the paper covering is tacked to theframe members, and a felt or other smooth or decorative facing M isapplied thereover andsecured at its depending edge m between the framemember A and a molding strip N, in the present instance in the nature ofa ring or ioop, the inoldine', facing material and frame member A bbeingfastened together by screws or similar devices O. The upper edge of themolding N overlaps the edge of the paper covering L to protect such edgefrom breaking or tearing, which might result were the edge of the paperentirely unprotected atthis point, although I prefer that the felt orsimilar facing rl\I shall occupy a position (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4)slightly raised with reference to the molding N, so that the moldingcannot offer any obstruction at the edge of the table, as for example,in withdrawing cards from the table over said edge,-in other words, thewhole of the effective or o erating surface of the table may be said toe a smooth continuous surface including the surrounding marginal edge ofthe top.

While I have herein disclosed a s ecific embodiment of the invention, itwill e a arent to persons skilled in the art that tie invention iscapable of embodiment in other forms and devices differing in detail andar `aiigenieiit from that shown, as may be in keeping with the hereto apended claims. In these claims, itv will be o served that Il do not claimthe improved top per se of the table disclosed herein, in view of thefact that it has been held that such subject mattei' should moreproperly be included in a divisional application.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. An article ofmanufacture of the character described, consisting of a light, ortable,folding table, comprisinfr a ske etoii or frame including a surroundingmember, reinforcing bars in the space within the surrounding memberterminating short of the center of said space, to leave an unobstructedcentral space defined by the ends of said bars, means spanning the spacebe-v tween the inner ends of the bars and connected thereto, a coveringon the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, and legs pivotallymounted on the frame and foldable into the space within the surroundingmember of the frame.

2. An article of manufacture of the chai'- acter described, consistingof a light, aortable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frameincluding a surrounding member. reinforcing ba rs in the space withinthe surrounding member terminating short of the center of said s nace, athin metal plate spanning the space ietween the inner ends o the barsand connected thereto, a covering on the frame constituting therewith asuitable top and lefrs pivotally mounted on the frame and foldablie intothe spacebetween the ini ner ends of the bars.

3. An article of manufacture of the character described consisting of alicht, portable, folding table comprising a skeleton or frame includinga surrounding member, reinforciner bars extending inwardly from saidsurrounding members, bars arranged at right angles to said firstmentioned bars, the reinforcing bars being separated at their innerends, to provide an unobstructed central space defined by said ends, acovering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, legspivotally mounted on the frame 'and foldable into the space within thesurrounding member of the frame, said legs being arranged in )airsadapted to fold at right angles to each other,a pair parallel to thefirst mentioned bars and within the s )ace between tlie inner ends ofthe other ars and the other pair parallel to said other bars and underthe first mentioned pair of legs, and means for causing a holdingengagement between tlie ends of the bars and the legs adjoiningy thesame.

4. An article of manufacture of the character .described consisting of alight, portable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frame includinga snrrouiiding member, reinforcing bars extending inwardly fromdifferent angles and separated at their inner ends, a thin metal platespanning the space between the inner ends of the bars connected thereto,a coveriner on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, and leespivotallj mounted on the frame and folda le into the space within thesurrounding member of the frame and between the ends of the separatedreinforcing hars.

5. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of alight, porrable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frame includinga surrounding member, reinforcing hars within said surroundingniember, acovering on the frame eonstitutiirg therewith a suitable to pivotmembers secured to the surroun ing member of the frame at pointsadjacent to the outer ends of the bars, and legs pivotally mountedbetween said pivot members and bars adapted to fold into the spacewithin the surrounding member of the frame, said iivot membersconiprising brackets secured to the surrounding member of the framehaving an otlset portion constituting ay support for the outer end ofthe pivot of the leg, the base portion oi the bracket being interposedbetween said surrounding member and the end of the reinforcing bar withthe end of the bnr directly1 against said base, and secured to both sailmember and bar.

0. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of ali ht. portable, foldiir table, comprising a s celcton or frame inchuing a surrounding member, reinforcing bars within said surrounding meiber, a covering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable-top,pivot members secured to the surrounding member of the frame at pointsadjacent to the outer ends of the bars, and legs *pivotally mounted onsaid pivot members and bars adapted to fold into the space wit-hin thesurrounding member of the frame, said pivot members comprising bracketssecured to the surrounding member `pf the frame having an offset portionconsti- 1 tuting a support for the outer end of the' pivot ofthe leg,the base portion of the bracket being interposed between saidAsurroundingmembervand the end ofthe reinforcing bar, and extendingbeyond. the opposite sides of the bar,and means for securing `the sameat the opposite sides of the bar to bracket-s secured to the surroundingmemberA of the frame having an offset port-ion constituting a supportfor the outer end of the pivot of the leg, vthe base portion of thebracketI being interposed between said sur rounding member and the endof the reinforcing` bar, and extending beyond the opposite sides of thebar, means for securing the same at the opposite sides of the bar to thesurrounding member, and means for securing the bracket at anintermediate point. to the end of the reinforcing bar.

S. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of alight, portable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frameincludinga surrounding member, reinforcing bars extending to near thecenter of the space within said surrounding member, and other similarreinforcing4 bars arranged at an angle to said first mentioned bars, aplate bridging the space between the inner ends of said bars, a coveringon the frame constituting therewith'a suitable top,

and legs pivotally mounted on the 4frameand foldable into the spacewithinthe surrounding member of the frame.

9. .An article of manufacture of the charact-er described, consisting ofa light, portable, folding table comprising a skeleton or frameincluding a surrounding member, reinforcing'bars extending to near thecenter of the space within said surrounding member, the inner ends ofsaid bars beingseparated to leave a space therebetween, a plate bridgingthe space between said inner ends,

mounted on the frame and foldable into thel space within the surroundingmember of the frame and between the ends of the separated reinforcingbars.

l0. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting ofa light, portable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frameincluding a, surrounding member, reinforcing bars extending to near thecenter of the space Within said surrounding inember, and other similarreinforcing bars arranged at an angle to said first mentioned bars, aplate bridging the space between the inner en ds lof said bars, acovering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, and legspivotally mounted on the frame and foldable into the space Within thesurrounding member of the frame, saidllegs being arrangedin pairsadapted to fold at right angles to each other, each pair parallel to apair of the cross bars and within the space Eetween the' inner ends ofthe other cross ars.

11. An article of manufacture of the character described consisting of alight, portable, folding table coinprisinga skeleton or space within thesurrounding member of the.

frame, and within the space between the inner ends of the bars.

12.v An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting ofa light, portable, folding' table, comprising a skeleton or frameincluding a surrounding member, reinforcing bars extending to near thecenter of the space within said surroundingv memb er, and other similarreinforcing bars arranged at an angle to said first mentioned bars, aplate bridging the space between the inner ends of said bars, a coveringon the frame constituting therewith a suitablev top, and Alegs pivotallymounted on the frame and foldable into-'the space within the surroundingmember of the frame, said legs being arranged in pairs adapted to foldat right angles to each other, each pau1 paral-l lel to a pair" of thecross bars and within the space between the inner ends of the othercross bars, the ends of the bars and legs be- 'ing arranged to cause aholding engagement vbetween said ends and the legs adjoining the same.

18,. An article of manufacture of the character described consisting oflight, port'- able, folding table comprising a skeleton or frameincluding a surrounding member, reinforeing bars extending inwardly fromsaid surrounding member, bars arranged'at right angles to said firstmentioned bars, the reinforcing bars being separated at theirinner ends,a thin metal plate bridging the space between said inner ends, acovering onI the' frame constitutingl therewith a suitable top,

'legs pivotally mounted on .the frame and foldable into the space withinthe surrounding member of the frame, said legs being arranged in pairsadapted tofold at right angles to each other, a pair parallel to theWitnesses between the inner ends of the other bars and the other pairparallel to said other bars and under the first mentioned pair of legs,and means for causing a folding engagement between the ends ofthe barsand the legs adjoining the saine.

In testimony whereof lA affix my signature in presenceJ of twowitnesses.

CHARLES W. COFFIN.

J. F. COX, H. H. RUSSELL.

vfirst mentioned bars and within the space 15

